Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Cosmic Creation: Emergence of the Great Elements and the Navel-Lotus

Devanagari script

चतुर्युगाभिसंख्याते सहस्रयुगपर्यये बहुजन्मा हि विश्वात्मा ब्रह्मणो हविरुच्यते //

Transliteration

caturyugābhisaṃkhyāte sahasrayugaparyaye bahujanmā hi viśvātmā brahmaṇo havirucyate //

Translation

When the four-yuga cycle has been fully reckoned, and the span of a thousand such yugas is completed, the Universal Self—taking many births—is then spoken of as Brahmā’s sacrificial oblation.

Word by Word

• चतुर्युग (caturyuga): the set of four yugas

• अभिसंख्याते (abhisaṃkhyāte): when fully computed/numbered

• सहस्रयुग (sahasrayuga): a thousand yugas

• पर्यये (paryaye): at the completion/turning-point

• बहुजन्मा (bahujanmā): having many births/manifestations

• हि (hi): indeed

• विश्वात्मा (viśvātmā): the Soul of the universe, the cosmic Self

• ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ): of Brahmā

• हविः (haviḥ): oblation, sacrificial offering

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said/called

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu on cosmic time (yuga and kalpa reckoning)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu (as the Universal Self / Viśvātmā)
• Brahmā
• Caturyuga
• Sahasra-yuga (Brahmā’s day measure)

Tags

• Yuga
• Kalpa
• CosmicTime
• Pralaya
• Sacrifice

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

It frames pralaya and renewal within measured cosmic time: after cycles of yugas (up to a thousand caturyugas), the cosmic order turns, and the Universal Self is described in sacrificial terms—implying dissolution and re-manifestation as part of a regulated rhythm.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

By emphasizing precise yuga-based chronology and the sacrificial principle (havis), it supports the Purāṇic ethic that rulers and householders should align conduct and ritual life with cosmic order—seeing dharma and yajña as harmonizing human time with divine time.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights yajña language: the Universal Self is called ‘havis,’ underscoring sacrifice as a cosmic model. Architecturally, it provides the time-theory backdrop used in Purāṇas for scheduling consecrations and major rites (kalpa/yuga awareness), though no direct Vāstu rule is stated in this verse.